Toppa Top 10: Ten Jamaicans Who Topped the Billboard Hot 100

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July 17, 2015


Words by LargeUp Crew
OMI-Cheerleader

Jamaica has had a presence in American pop music since Harry Belafonte first brought the songs of banana-boat workers in Port Antonio to the masses in the mid โ€˜50s. But just a small handful of Jamaican artists have made it to that elusive position atop the gold standard of all music charts, the Billboard Hot 100. And the ones who haveโ€”and havenโ€™tโ€”might surprise you. (Belafonte himself never made it, even with โ€œDay-O.โ€)

This week, Clarendon-born singer OMI, hardly a household name in Jamaica himself, became the latest yardie to attain the coveted position with โ€œCheerleader,โ€ culminating a years-long rise that saw him top numerous other charts worldwide. In recognition of this accomplishment, hereโ€™s a look at every Jamaican artist to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100, from 1974 through today.

Click here to start the list.